COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : UCLA : No Crutches for Abdul-Jabbar

Karim Watch, Day 2: The crutches are gone, offering further evidence that tailback Karim Abdul-Jabbar might be back to face USC on Saturday at the Coliseum.

Abdul-Jabbar sprained his right ankle on UCLA’s first play from scrimmage Saturday against Washington and did not return.

He showed up at practice Monday on crutches, slowed by a bad limp, but was walking without assistance at Tuesday’s practice, the limp barely noticeable.

“I’m feeling better,” he said.

Coach Terry Donahue said he doesn’t expect to have any idea if Abdul-Jabbar can play until Thursday at the earliest.